Adjustable-back chair, etc.



Judy 17, 1934 c. A; VAN DERVEER ET AL ADJUSTABLE BACK CHAIR, ETC

Filed May 27. 1932 July 17, 1934. c. AQVAN DERVEER ET AL 1,967,000

ADJUSTABLE BACK CHAIR, ETC

Patented July 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,967,000 ADJUSTABLE-BACK CHAIR, ETC. Clarence A. Van Derveer and Ernest Beck, Michigan City, Ind, assignors to S. Karpen & Bros,

Chicago, 111., a corporation of West Virginia Application May 2'7, 1932, Serial No. 613,988

Claims.

' .10 ,justable "backs.

In the drawings- .Figure .1 is a side View in elevation of a chair embodying our invention; Fig. 2, a sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3, a front view in elevation; and Fig. 4, :a sectional detail view, the section being taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. :2.

In the illustration given, A represents the frame of the chair; B represents the hinged hack; and C represents mechanism for adj-ustably locking the back in one of several positions.

The frame A may be of any suitable construction. In the drawings, the frame is shown as consisting of a base frame A resting upon legs A and being adapted to support cushions A and cushions A The frame A also comprises a side frame 10. As shown more clearly in Fig. 1, the side frame is provided with a relatively smooth exterior surface. On its inner side, as shown in Fig. 2, the side frame 10 is equipped with a horizontal rib 11 and with vertical ribs 12. Secured to the rear end of rib 11 is an inclined bracing rib 13. The vertical ribs 12 support hinge supports 14 adapted to receive the hinge elements 15 upon which is mounted a convertible arm-seat 16. At its front side, the side frame 10 is provided with a right-angle flange 17 which is provided with a longitudinal slot.

The seat backs B may be of any suitable construction. In the illustration given, each back is equipped at its sides with standards 18 which support the back body. Each of the standards 18 is equipped with a split hub 19 secured to a hollow shaft 20 which is rotatably mounted in the casing sides 10. Adjustable bolts 29 are employed to secure the hub upon the shaft. Each of the standards 18 is provided also with a depending extension 21.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, the backs B are equipped at their upper sides with cushions B which have sides 22 tapering downwardly and inwardly. By employing a cushion B of this shape, a comfortable rest for the head and neck is provided While at the same time the taperingsides22 afford ampleroom for the shoul- .ders of a passenger.

The adjustable locking mechanism C is illustrated more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. A linkarm 23 is pivotally connected at its rear end to one of the extensions 21. At its forward end, the link arm .is provided with a longitudinal slot 24 and at its top side with a series of locking notches 25. Secured to the side frame 10 just above the notches 25 is a fixed or stationary tooth or ledge 26 adapted to engage one of the notches 25. A

spring 27, which is secured to rib 11 and link arm 23, normally draws the link arm toward the fixed tooth or ledge 26. Depending from the side frame 10 is a bracket .28 which pivotally supports at 29 an angle lever 30. The rear arm of the lever 30 is provided with a stud 31 which engages the slot 24 of link member 23. To the other end of the lever 30 is secured a short connecting link 32 which is pivotally connected to an actuating lever 33. Lever 33 is pivotally connected at its rear end 34 to one of the vertical ribs 12 and at its forward end is equipped witha handle or grip 35. The forward end of the lever 33, which is preferably covered with rubber to preven't'no'ise, extends through the longitudinal slot with which the flange 17 is provided. A spring 36 is secured to the actuating arm 33 and to the horizontal flange 11, thus serving to draw the lever 30 normally in a downward direction.

In the operation of the locking mechanism, it will be observed that the springs 27 and 36 normally draw the notched link arm 23 upwardly so as to hold the ledge or tooth 26 in engagement with one of the notches 25. When it is desired to release the locking arm 23 and to swing back B upon its pivot, the grip or handle 35 is drawn upwardly so that actuating lever 33 through connecting link 32 raises the forward end of the angle bar 30. This causes the inner end of the bar 30 to be depressed, and stud 31 which engages the longitudinal slot 34 of the link arm 23 depresses the forward end of the link arm 23, thus withdrawing the notched upper portion of the arm from engagement with the locking tooth 26. The back may now be tilted to the desired inclination. This can be done by the passengers leaning back against the seat back 33 until a comfortable inclination is reached. The grip handle 35 may then be released. Springs 27 and. 36 then cooperate to raise the link arm 23 so as to bring the tooth 26 into engagement with one of the notches 25. Upon the release of grip 35, it will be observed that spring 36 draws the bar 33 downwardly and connector link 32 depresses the forward end of angle bar 30. At the same time, the inner end of bar 30 raises stud 31 and thereby the forward end of link arm 23. By providing a slot in which the stud 31 may move, the arm 23 may be readily shifted backward or forward.

The chair is also shown provided with tubular foot rests 37 which are carried by arms 38 secured at their upper ends to the base frame A.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearance of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claim should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

We claim:

1. In combination, a chair-frame, a back pivotally mounted on said frame and equipped with a depending extension, a link arm having its rear end pivoted to said depending extension and its forward end provided with a longitudinal slot, a release lever pivotally supported on the frame and equipped with a stud engaging the slot of said link and adapted to depress said link, cooperating locking means carried by said link arm and by the frame and adapted to be brought into engagement when said arm is in raised position, and yieldable means urging said link arm toward raised position.

2. In combination, a chair-frame, a back pivotally mounted on said frame and equipped with a depending extension, a link arm pivotally connected at its rear to said extension and having its front portion provided with a longitudinal slot, said arm also having its front top side provided with spaced locking notches, a fixed tooth carried by said frame and adapted to engage said notches, a spring having one end secured to the frame and the other to the notched arm and normally urging said notched arm into engagement with said fixed tooth, and a release lever pivotally secured to said frame and provided with a stud engaging the longitudinal slot of said link arm.

3. An adjustable-back chair comprising a chair-frame, a back pivotally mounted thereon and equipped with a depending extension, a looking arm pivotally connected at one end to said extension and provided near its forward end with a longitudinal slot, said arm being also provided with looking notches, a fixed tooth carried by said frame and adapted to engage said notches, an angle bar centrally pivoted to said frame and equipped at one end with a stud engaging the slot of said locking arm, an actuating lever pivotally connected to said frame and projecting beyond the front thereof, and a link connecting said actuating lever and the free arm of said angle bar.

4. In combination with a chair-frame and a back pivotally mounted thereon, said back being equipped with a depending arm extending below the pivot upon which the back is mounted, a side frame carried by said chair-frame, a grip lever pivotally secured to the side frame and guided in a slotted flange with which the side frame is equipped, a fixed tooth carried by the side frame, a slotted lever pivotally connected to the depending arm and bearing notches adapted to engage said tooth, spring means urging said lever toward said tooth, an angle bar centrally pivoted to said side frame and equipped at one end with a stud engaging said slotted lever, and a link connecting the free end of said angle bar to said grip lever.

5. In combination, a chair-frame, a back pivotally mounted on said frame and equipped with a depending extension, a link arm having its rear end pivoted to said depending extension, a release lever pivotally secured to the frame, means including a plurality of connected members connecting the forward end of said arm to said release lever, said means comprising a slot in the link arm and a stud engaging said slot and secured to one of said members, cooperating locking means carried by said link arm and by the frame and adapted to be brought into engagement when said arm is in raised position, and yieldable means urging said link arm toward raised position.

CLARENCE A. VAN DERVEER. ERNEST BECK. 

